Delivery shoe with masking capability for card backs

Abstract

A method of using a dealer shoe that is configured to provide access to and removal of playing cards from within the dealer shoe includes: a base, a front plate forming a lower gap with the plate through which individual playing cards can pass, a top, and opposed sides joining the base, top, two sides and the front plate to form a card-carrying cavity. The front plate further is associated with a light producing element configured to shine light (e.g., in patterns, in colors, and the like) over a back of a first playing card extending out of the lower gap; and the wavelength and intensity and qualities of the shone light being sufficient to reduce optical contrast of different colors and/or shades on the back of the first playing card or otherwise disrupt optical viewing of printed images on the backs of playing cards.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method for providing access to and removal of playing cards while deteriorating visually determinable information on backs of playing cards in a delivery shoe, comprising the steps of:
 placing one or more decks of cards in a delivery shoe comprised of a base, front plate forming a lower gap with the plate through which individual playing cards can pass, and opposed sides joining the base and the front plate, the front plate further comprising a light-emitting masking element configured to shine light over a back of a first playing card extending out of the lower gap; and 
 the wavelength and intensity of the shone light being sufficient to reduce optical contrast of different colors and/or shades on the back of the first playing card. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the shone light is in a pattern projected onto at least an exposed portion of the back of the first playing card. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the wavelength of the shone light is within ±70 nm of a color on the back of the first playing card. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the shone light is emitted from the light-emitting masking element attached on or adjacent to one portion of a side of the front plate of the delivery shoe and directed towards at least a lower area of the front plate and/or the back of the first playing card extending out of the lower gap. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the wavelength of the shone light is within ±70 nm of a color on the back of the first playing card. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4  wherein the light-emitting masking element comprises a light-emitting element, a light filter and a light focusing lens. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4  wherein the shone light is emitted with a visual distraction factor selected from the group consisting of fluttering light intensity, angular light movement across the back of the first playing card extending out of the lower gap, patterns of shone light, and variation over time in light wavelengths. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6  wherein there is an ordered alignment of the light-emitting element, then a light filter and then a light-focusing lens within the light-emitting masking element, and at least one light is shone onto the back of the first playing card extending out of the lower gap. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6  wherein there is an ordered alignment of the light-emitting element, a first light-focusing lens and then a light filter within the light-emitting masking element, and at least one light is shone onto the back of the first playing card extending out of the lower gap. 
     
     
       10. The dealer shoe of  claim 7  wherein the shone light is capable of being provided as a pattern on the back of the first playing card. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  wherein the shone light is emitted in an upward direction and reflected downward over the back of the first playing card extending out of the lower gap. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  wherein the shone light is within ±70 nm of a color on the back of the first playing card. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1  wherein the shone light is emitted with a visual distraction factor selected from the group consisting of fluttering light intensity, angular light movement across the back of the first playing card extending out of the lower gap, patterns of shone light, and variation over time in light wavelengths. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1  further comprising placing a set of randomized playing cards in the dealer shoe so that one surface of a forward most playing card faces the shone light. 
     
     
       15. The dealer shoe of  claim 14  wherein the shone light is emitted from a light-emitting masking element attached on or adjacent to one portion of a side of the front plate of the delivery shoe and directed towards at least a lower area of the front plate where the lower gap is present to mask the back of the first playing card extending out of the lower gap. 
     
     
       16. The dealer shoe of  claim 15  wherein the light-emitting masking element comprises a light-emitting element, a light filter and a light focusing lens. 
     
     
       17. The dealer shoe of  claim 16  wherein there is an ordered alignment of the light-emitting element, then a light filter and then a light-focusing lens within the light-emitting masking element, and at least one light is are shone onto the back of the first playing card extending out of the lower gap. 
     
     
       18. The dealer shoe of  claim 16  wherein there is an ordered alignment of the light-emitting element, a first light-focusing lens and then a light filter within the light-emitting masking element, and at least one light is are shone onto the back of the first playing card extending out of the lower gap. 
     
     
       19. The dealer shoe of  claim 16  wherein the light-emitting masking element is configured to emit shone light with a visual distraction factor selected from the group consisting of fluttering light intensity, angular light movement across the back of the first playing card extending out of the lower gap, patterns of shone light, and variation over time in light wavelengths. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1  wherein a sensor is positioned within the delivery shoe and the sensor senses information on a playing card back within the delivery shoe and transmits that information to a processor in communication with the sensor. 
     
     
       21. The method of  20  wherein the processor then communicates with a display screen associated with the delivery shoe to display a message relating to sensed information. 
     
     
       22. The method of  20  wherein the processor then communicates with light-emitting masking element and instructs the light-emitting masking element to alter its light output. 
     
     
       23. A dealer shoe configured to provide access to and removal of playing cards and masking discernable information on backs of the playing cards before removal of the playing cards from within the dealer shoe comprising:
 a base, a front plate forming a lower gap with the plate through which individual playing cards can pass, and opposed sides joining the base and the front plate to form a card-carrying cavity, 
 the front plate further comprising a light-emitting masking element configured to shine light over a back of a first playing card extending out of the lower gap; and
 the wavelength and intensity of the shone light being sufficient to mask discernable information on backs of the playing cards before removal of the playing cards from within the dealer shoe by at least reducing optical contrast of different colors and/or shades on the back of the first playing card while extending out of the lower gap. 
 
 
     
     
       24. The dealer shoe of  claim 23  wherein the shone light is emitted upwardly and then reflected downwardly over the back of the first playing card extending out of the lower gap. 
     
     
       25. The dealer shoe of  claim 23  wherein the shone light is within ±70 nm of a color on the back of the first playing card. 
     
     
       26. The dealer shoe of  claim 23  wherein the light-emitting masking element is configured to emit shone light with a visual distraction factor selected from the group consisting of fluttering light intensity, angular light movement across the back of the first playing card extending out of the lower gap, patterns of shone light, and variation over time in light wavelengths. 
     
     
       27. The dealer shoe of  claim 23  further comprising a set of randomized playing cards in the card-carrying cavity of the dealer shoe so that one surface of a forward most playing card extends out of the lower gap. 
     
     
       28. The dealer shoe of  claim 23  wherein a sensor is positioned within the delivery shoe and the sensor is configured to sense information on a playing card back within the delivery shoe and then transmit that information to a processor in communication with the sensor. 
     
     
       29. The dealer shoe of  claim 28  wherein the processor is configured to communicate with a display screen associated with the delivery shoe to display a message relating to sensed information. 
     
     
       30. The dealer shoe of  claim 28  wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the light-emitting masking element and the light-emitting masking element is configured to respond to such communication by altering properties of light emitted.